Sold Out For Jesus daily devotion online
G. John White's first devotional Sold out for Jesus covers 12 vital themes of Christianity.
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October Topic: Grace |
As it is not until we have a deep appreciation of what GRACE is and means, that we really come into the full liberty in Christ that we have been purchased to experience, let's take this month to explore some of its depths and treasures. |
Acts 10:35
(GOD)... ACCEPTS MEN FROM EVERY NATION
I believe Cornelius was a bit like the Patron Saint of all of us Gentiles!
Contrary to what we often hear, Paul was not the first to go and preach to the Gentiles, although he did, of course, have a major influence over the Gentile world. Philip had already gone to Samaria, and had a phenomenal crusade, before meeting with and baptising the Ethiopian eunuch, the Ethiopian Chancellor of the Exchequer.
Here the Jew, Peter, was having his own paradigm shift! (Yes, I know it wasn't completed until it was pointed out to him by Paul, but nevertheless, he went to Cornelius). I guess if I was Cornelius I would have been a little bit hurt by being called "impure and unclean", but he would have known the Jewish perspective already - that was acknowledged as part of life in their day.
However, the Good News, that had rocked Peter and unsettled him, would eventually fully release Cornelius and his household. (The Holy Spirit continued to be unpredictable!) This was like a lightning bolt or a brilliant shaft of bright light through the dark clouds of Jewish exclusivism. The Chosen race had become the Chosen races! No, God had not "changed horses"! As Paul points out, and indeed stresses later, we are grafted into "The Race" by grace, but for poor old Peter it was an eye-opener of mammoth proportions.
The Holy Spirit was not only accepting Gentiles into the family of God but also empowering them with His giftings and anointing too! What is more, even before they had been water baptised!
How often, when we safely put 'God in the box' of our experiential theology, He delights in bursting out of it and saying in effect "Sorry, what box"?
Hey, listen, as the old hymn goes... "Conquering kings their titles take from the foes they captive make. Jesus, by a nobler deed, from the millions He has freed."
Jesus sets us free. He set Cornelius free and He did that early on in the Church's experience to prove it is His desire and purpose. Just as He revealed to Peter - He accepts men from every nation.
Hallelujah, because that includes you and me!
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